ORO Functional Statement

Administration for Children and Families

Chapter KJ

OFFICE OF REGIONAL OPERATIONS

71 FR 59117-59123, 10/06/06

62 FR 4295-4300, 01/29/97

KJ.00 Mission

KJ.10 Organization

KJ.20 Functions

KJ.00 Mission [71 FR 59117-59123, 10/06/06]. The Office of Regional Operations (ORO) advises the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on all strategic and operational activities related to implementation of the agencies national goals and priorities at the regional level. ORO oversees the performance of the Offices of the Regional Administrators (ORA) on all coordination of cross-cutting and special emphasis programs and initiatives, emergency preparedness, tribal government relations, State, and local ACF-related affairs, and administrative functions in Regions I-X, Offices of the Regional Administrators (ORA).

The ORAs are located in the ten DHHS Regional Offices: Region I (Boston), Region II (New York), Region III (Philadelphia), Region IV (Atlanta), Region V (Chicago), Region VI (Dallas), Region VII (Kansas City), Region VIII (Denver), Region IX (San Francisco), and Region X (Seattle). Each ORA, through the Director, ORO, and in coordination with ACF Program Directors, represents ACF to States, counties, cities, or towns, Territories, and Tribal governments, grantees, and public and private local organizations. The ORA coordinates issues that may have significant regional or national impact. The ORA develops plans in conjunction with the Program Directors to meet ACF goals and objectives and initiatives and participates in regional activities to inform the public about ACF programs at the regional level in coordination with the ACF Office of Public Affairs. The ORA contributes to the development of ACF national policy based on knowledge of services in the region.

KJ.10 Organization [71 FR 59117-59123, 10/06/06]. The Office of Regional Operations (ORO) is headed by a Director who reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The ORO is organized as follows: Office of the Director (KJA); Regional Operations Staff (KJB); Office of the Regional Administrators (KJDI-X).

KJ.20 Functions [71 FR 59117-59123, 10/06/06]. A. Office of the Director (KJA): The Office of the Director (OD) provides executive leadership and assistance on all strategic and operational activities related to implementation of the agencies national goals and priorities at the regional level. The Director is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on regional matters involving special emphasis programs and initiatives, emergency preparedness, Tribal government relations, State, and local ACF partnership activities, and regional administrative functions. The Director represents the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families within DHHS and with other Federal agencies and task forces on regional activities.

The OD: (1) Oversees the Regional Administrators in administering regional activities and implementing cross-cutting program initiatives; (2) serves as a focal point for operational and long-range planning; and (3) coordinates with the ACF Central Office components to ensure that the Regional Administrators can help coordinate certain national priorities and initiatives, State, and local partnership activities, special programs, and emergency preparedness and response operations.

B. Regional Operations Staff (KJB): The Regional Operations Staff (ROS): (1) Develops and manages liaison processes between ACF Regional Offices and the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families; (2) supports the Offices of the Regional Administrators (ORA) of each region by implementing and overseeing the management systems and procedures for communication and workload that emanate from ACF national priorities and initiatives, special emphasis programs, emergency preparedness, tribal government relations, and State, and local ACF partnership activities; (3) monitors and evaluates ORA operations and makes plans for the utilization of regional resources to accomplish approved objectives; and (4) manages administrative and human resources functions; and salaries and expenses for the ORA.

C. Offices of the Regional Administrators (KJDI-X): Each of the Offices of the Regional Administrators (ORA) is headed by a Regional Administrator who reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families through the Director, ORO. Each Office: (1) Helps support ACF's key national goals and priorities; (2) communicates ACF's regional interests, concerns, and relationships within the Department and among other Federal agencies and focuses on State agency culture change, more effective partnerships, and improved customer service; (3) manages special and sensitive projects; (4) serves as a focal point for public affairs and contacts with the media, public awareness activities, information dissemination, and education campaigns in coordination with the ACF Office of Public Affairs and in conjunction with the DHHS Regional Director; (5) assists the ACF Regional Administrator in the management of cross-cutting initiatives and activities among the regional components; and (6) as appropriate, and in coordination with the ACF Central Office components, assists with activities relating to developmental disabilities, refugee resettlement, economic and community development, tribal and special initiative activities.

The Regional Administrators: (1) Oversee the management of ACF regional staff in the ORA; (2) coordinates activities across regional programs; (3) ensure that goals and objectives are carried out; and (4) alert the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families through the Director, ORO, and/or Central Office ACF Program Directors to problems and issues that may have significant regional or national impact.

As requested by the Director of Regional Operations or Central Office ACF Program Directors, the ORA represents ACF at the regional level in executive communications within ACF, with the DHHS Regional Director, other DHHS Operating Divisions, other Federal agencies, and public or private local organizations.

Within the ORA, an administrative staff: (1) Develops regional work plans, in coordination with Central Office Program Directors, related to the overall ACF strategic plans, and tracks, monitors, and reports on regional progress in the attainment of ACF national goals and objectives; (2) coordinates routine budget, administrative, and human resource functions as required, including Executive Secretariat, ACF-controlled space, computer and computer peripheral equipment, and health and safety for the ORA; (3) coordinates ACF programs during emergencies in the regions, including natural disasters, pandemic flu, or other disasters; (4) serve as ACF's focal point for COOP planning, implementation, and coordination; (5) coordinates regional ACF deployments of human services assessments and action teams during State and/or Federally declared emergencies and disasters; and (6) coordinates resources for regional special emphasis activities with the DHHS Regional Director's office.

As of May 29, 2007